Look Library FAQ

Common questions regarding ARRI's Look Library

In Software Update Package (SUP) 5.0 for ALEXA Mini and AMIRA cameras, ARRI is introducing an exciting new way to implement high-quality looks. The ARRI Look Library puts on-set look management within the reach of all productions, not just those with the time and budget to develop bespoke looks prior to shooting. Offering 87 looks in three intensities, the ARRI Look Library caters to a huge variety of different shooting scenarios. The looks are numbered within nine themed groups: application, black-and-white, contrast, environment, film, period, season, special, and tinted. Similar to using different film stocks, each look provides a unique but repeatable aesthetic when combined with the cinematographer’s choice of lenses.

If you purchased your AMIRA Premium or ALEXA Mini camera after May 1st, 2017, your camera will already have the ARRI Look Library license key installed. For cameras acquired before May 2017, the license key can be purchased at the ARRI License Shop.

At the current time, the ARRI Look Library is only available for ALEXA cameras with advanced color management. ARRI is currently in discussions withthird parties to provide LUT boxes or monitors that will also have the ARRI Look Library build in.

The looks appear as an additional source beside the USB stick in the look import dialog. In order to use the look, it must be imported into the list of active looks. In order to be able to modify the CDL parameters of that look, the look must be duplicated and renamed.

The looks can be adjusted using CDL parameters after duplicating them in the camera. This way it is possible to use ARRI Look Library looks as a basis to create new adjusted versions which are based on the same 3D-LUT.

For ALEXA Mini and AMIRA: When a look is added to the active look list it isn’t possible to directly change it. The look needs to be duplicated first. Once duplicated the look can be altered using CDL values in the HOME > LOOK > LOOK PARAM menu or by using an external application like Pomfort Live Grade Air.

ASC CDL (Color Decision List) is a standardized format to exchange and specify basic color grading information. It contains slope, offset, and power controls for the red, green, and blue channels as well as a saturation parameter for the entire image.

Looks from the ARRI Look Library generate a specific grade and color response. It is important to understand, however, that white balance settings will also affect the grade as white balance will be applied to the image before the look is applied. To generate reproducible results, an auto white balance on a grey card should be performed before shooting.